2014 180g Alive 2 LP vs 1977 Alive 2 LP

[Hi I'm Witz]

Anyone here have an opinion as to which version sounds better? I'm looking to get a copy of Alive 2 on vinyl and the 2014 180g versions are hard to find and rather expensive (especially new/sealed). I'm just wondering if it's worth paying the price for the 2014 version or should I keep looking for a 1977 version in good condition.

[KissKing73]

Look for the 1977 US pressing, and make sure you can see the word STERLING stamped in the deadwax. It’s a fantastic pressing!

[Hi I'm Witz]

Look for the 1977 US pressing, and make sure you can see the word STERLING stamped in the deadwax. It’s a fantastic pressing!

Thanks! What about the Japanese pressing? I always hear that Japanese pressings are superior.

[Wally Swift]

I wouldn't dismiss non-STERLING 70's copies if at least side 4 has the stamp. And they are a good price. The audience noise is so overkill on this album that slight mastering differences would doubtfully be even noticeable. On side 4 you'd probably hear a difference. The STERLING I have as my regular play copy sounds great on side 4.

EDIT: I just checked my goodies packed archive copy and although the label printing is different from my play copy they both have STERLING on all four sides. Maybe they are all like this? Dunno.

[Wally Swift]

You can probably find details about SQ comparisons here;

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/ ... es.338938/

Might have to read/search a bit. Long thread in multiple parts.

[Kisstanbul]

I've compared both pressings. It's strange that the 180gr Alive II remaster has a wider dead wax compared to the original.
That may be due to some compression since the source is digital whereas the original was analog.
It sounds good though, I wouldn't say it's a bad pressing.

[Lesnar]

Here ya go.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/KISS-ALIVE-II- ... 3733700034

[markaberrant]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

[FanbAce1978]

Always settle for the original, especially since they are very easy to find...

[Hi I'm Witz]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

[Wally Swift]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

I love it too but it sounds like shit. There's a thick sheet of Rice Crispies noise over all the live stuff. I mean, I get the effect they were going for and it's amusing in that sense but this ain't no sonic masterpiece.

[battra]

I got an OG copy of Alive II, or close enough to OG...

And it's fine.

I'm not the biggest fan of the record though...as for the 2014 Re-Masters, I don't have anything with which to do an A to B.

[ZachAttack]

get an original Japanese pressing (this goes for pretty much every KISS album)

[Shawn71]

Look for the 1977 US pressing, and make sure you can see the word STERLING stamped in the deadwax. It’s a fantastic pressing!

Thanks! What about the Japanese pressing? I always hear that Japanese pressings are superior.

Japanese pressings from the 70’s up until mid ish 80’s are superior pressings IMO. They always used virgin vinyl and limited how much they used each stamper.

If you are looking for an American 70’s pressing I suggest tracking down a Canadian pressing from the era. Not as many were pressed as in the states, thus less wear on the stampers from the time.

For me, I enjoy the 2014 pressing as well, but as mentioned it is harder to track down these days.

[neiltracy00]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

I love it too but it sounds like shit. There's a thick sheet of Rice Crispies noise over all the live stuff. I mean, I get the effect they were going for and it's amusing in that sense but this ain't no sonic masterpiece.

my fave kiss album, i love it way more than Alive

[markaberrant]

Y'all can like it all you want, but it is a sonic atrocity. I'm not talking about the music, I am talking about the mixing, production, and mastering. There really isn't much to debate, it is awful. Not my problem if you are letting nostalgia and your shitty stereo system distort reality.

[Wally Swift]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

I love it too but it sounds like shit. There's a thick sheet of Rice Crispies noise over all the live stuff. I mean, I get the effect they were going for and it's amusing in that sense but this ain't no sonic masterpiece.

my fave kiss album, i love it way more than Alive

LISTEN! I.....stole your love.....ain't never gonna let you go-o!

[gothunder]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

I love it too but it sounds like shit. There's a thick sheet of Rice Crispies noise over all the live stuff. I mean, I get the effect they were going for and it's amusing in that sense but this ain't no sonic masterpiece.

my fave kiss album, i love it way more than Alive

LISTEN! I.....stole your love.....ain't never gonna let you go-o!

[Wally Swift]

I will add this to my previous comments about SQ, listening now to a clean STERLING cut with a super-sensitive AT150Mlx cart I do find that going a bit "tail up" with the VTA brings out more detail on the live tracks that better cuts through the crowd noise.

[destroyerrnro]

With the exception of side 4, this album sounds like crap in any version.

Your entitled to your opinion but I fucking love Alive 2!

Ditto. Sheer excellence front to back from the peak of the band's history.

[Lesnar]

Alive II always sounded great to me. The hyper crowd noise adds to the excitement.

[BC Witch]

I've got two copies of the '77 pressing, both have STERLING on the dead wax whilst one has a large 'S' with a smaller 'R' and a 'C' in the curls of the 'S' and the other has a large 'T' and possibly an 'I' or '1' next to it so I guess they were mastered by two different people who used those imprints as their 'signature'. I played both back to back and can't hear a huge difference in sound but the 'SRC' one sounded maybe a bit bassier (though I could be imagining that) and I even thought that the 'T1' version was slightly sped up (I mean by a tiny amount, barely noticeable). I love the sound of this album, crazy OTT crowd and all.

Today's lesson in KISStory: How to drive yourself nuts with the different pressings of each LP!

[Hi I'm Witz]

I think I'm just going to keep looking for a 2014 remaster. I want a pristine copy of this album!

[guitardiet]

Y'all can like it all you want, but it is a sonic atrocity. I'm not talking about the music, I am talking about the mixing, production, and mastering. There really isn't much to debate, it is awful. Not my problem if you are letting nostalgia and your shitty stereo system distort reality.

Agree with this. I love the album, but man it’s a distorted mess. Any pressing I’ve heard.

[shandi777]

get an original Japanese pressing (this goes for pretty much every KISS album)

Amen....nothing compares IMO!

[Shawn71]

I've got two copies of the '77 pressing, both have STERLING on the dead wax whilst one has a large 'S' with a smaller 'R' and a 'C' in the curls of the 'S' and the other has a large 'T' and possibly an 'I' or '1' next to it so I guess they were mastered by two different people who used those imprints as their 'signature'. I played both back to back and can't hear a huge difference in sound but the 'SRC' one sounded maybe a bit bassier (though I could be imagining that) and I even thought that the 'T1' version was slightly sped up (I mean by a tiny amount, barely noticeable). I love the sound of this album, crazy OTT crowd and all.

Today's lesson in KISStory: How to drive yourself nuts with the different pressings of each LP!

Listen to a couple episodes of Kiss My Wax. It’s mind boggling how Much Tom knows about the different variations.

[Shawn71]

I think I'm just going to keep looking for a 2014 remaster. I want a pristine copy of this album!

If you find the right seller on eBay most vintage Japanese pressings available are in pretty good shape. Just watch out for foxing.

[Hi I'm Witz]

I think I'm just going to keep looking for a 2014 remaster. I want a pristine copy of this album!

If you find the right seller on eBay most vintage Japanese pressings available are in pretty good shape. Just watch out for foxing.

??? What is foxing?

[Shawn71]

I think I'm just going to keep looking for a 2014 remaster. I want a pristine copy of this album!

If you find the right seller on eBay most vintage Japanese pressings available are in pretty good shape. Just watch out for foxing.

??? What is foxing?

Basically when a record label, sleeve, inner, etc starts to get discoloured spots. Sometimes confused with mould, which it is not. Think age spots on an elderly person. Might have to do with the materials used and/or how it’s been stored over the years.

[BC Witch]

I've got two copies of the '77 pressing, both have STERLING on the dead wax whilst one has a large 'S' with a smaller 'R' and a 'C' in the curls of the 'S' and the other has a large 'T' and possibly an 'I' or '1' next to it so I guess they were mastered by two different people who used those imprints as their 'signature'. I played both back to back and can't hear a huge difference in sound but the 'SRC' one sounded maybe a bit bassier (though I could be imagining that) and I even thought that the 'T1' version was slightly sped up (I mean by a tiny amount, barely noticeable). I love the sound of this album, crazy OTT crowd and all.

Today's lesson in KISStory: How to drive yourself nuts with the different pressings of each LP!

Listen to a couple episodes of Kiss My Wax. It’s mind boggling how Much Tom knows about the different variations.

I love that show! Yes, Tom is a goldmine of KISS info.

[Spiritual_Chaos]

Don't understand why they had this album sounding so shitty compared to the first Alive. Going from one to the other, Alive II sounds like an audience bootleg.

[Wally Swift]

Don't understand why they had this album sounding so shitty compared to the first Alive. Going from one to the other, Alive II sounds like an audience bootleg.

The audience track it seems is intended to be part of the music, to elevate as much as possible the grandiose monster that was live KISS. It's apparently not meant to be purely incidental as it should be. Big mistake imo.